JAPAN’S SECRET WEAPON
Technical Details (J 0.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 30. The chief of the United States Forest Service, Mr Lyle Watts, disclosed that Japanese balloons found were made of five layers of silk paper and controlled by an automatic dropping device. The balloons at first ascend about 35,000 feet where they reach air currents travelling constantly east. On losing gas the balloons descend to 25,000 feet, upon which an automatic barometric switch drops a sandbag causing the balloon again to ascend. The balloons travel approximately 125 miles an hour. If the Japanese calculate correctly, the last sandbag ' is dropped when the balloon .reaches America. After the final fall a fuse ignites the balloon, setting off a demolition charge. Mr Watts said the balloons so far found had been defective or failed to explode. The fire fighters and .air patrol had been increased to shoot down as many balloons as possible.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 5
Word Count
151JAPAN’S SECRET WEAPON Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 5
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